"The Whipple Pain"

So we're still here - taking each day as it comes. Here's a little Daryl update, then news about our soon-to-be-born Son to follow.

"The Whipple Pain" is talked about on many message boards by various whipple procedure patients, yet Surgeons don't seem to acknowledge it or know much about it. But Daryl sure does!!! Researching this phenomenon and getting solid answers is kind of like dealing with the Bermuda Triangle, I've decided.

The Whipple Pain has hit Daryl about 6 times since surgery, with a few other more minor incidents. The good think is that it lasts only 1-2 minutes. The bad thing is that "you think you're going to die" before those minutes pass. Daryl describes it as "someone grabbing your heart and squeezing it so tightly that you can't catch your breath." Many times it causes a cold sweat and clammy hands, etc. And the really bad ones make Daryl almost pass out (we don't think he's passed out yet, though). The most scary part of "The Whipple Pain" is that it's unpredictable, so he could be driving down the highway and have it hit....and be unable to make it to the shoulder and stop the car.

Most days Daryl is very aware of food as it processes through his GI tract and when/if he starts feeling gas bubbles creeping up toward his stomach, he has to take immediate action to ward off this "Whipple Pain." So it seems to be a constant struggle and unknown part of recovery....not everyone claims to experience it, nobody seems to know what causes it....and it's terribly frustrating!

So I'd like to ask those of you who are praying for Daryl to ask that he be healed from this phenomenon of "Whipple Pain". The Lord can do it - he's the Great Physician, our Creator and Healer. I'm in....hope you are too!

Daryl will begin working again this coming weekend, so keep him in mind as he starts the overnight shifts again.

Okay, now with some HAPPY news!! "Baby Ben" has two weeks left to enjoy the quiet tranquility of my belly. If he chooses to stay there until then, we have a c-section scheduled at Kennestone Hospital the morning of June 30th (one week before my actual due date). This will enable Daryl to spend the week with me in the hospital before working the following weekend shifts. We go tomorrow to have a sonogram to check out how much Ben weighs, etc. so if anything changes we'll let you know. And we'll post photos here as soon as he arrives!